We're 6 weeks into our UK tour and the adventures keep coming.
1. The Lead-up to the Tour
Our last update saw us preparing to head to the UK for another Summer of festivals, clubs and workshops. And this year there are three of us! The Sunshine Coast's gorgeous Rebecca Wright agreed that she needed an adventure too, and has come along to play the cello and sing on our first "Three's a Cloud" tour.
Before we left, we managed to squeeze in some family catchups, checking out the ANZAC day parade in Maleny (featuring the local Light-Horse re-enactment group), a concert at Montville, dinner with friends and of course, John toured with the Spooky Men's Chorale up until the last minute (check out his OneSpookyMan blog if you dare). In fact, the final performance on the Spooky tour was on a Sunday night, finishing at 6pm. We then had dinner hosted by the wonderful Helena, spent far too little time with our friends, and were at the airport to check in at 10.30pm, for a 1.30am departure.
There's nothing quite like 3 hours in an airport to make you appreciate how difficult it is to attractively decorate a concrete barn. We got checked in, guitars were handed over with a degree of trepidation, and then we settled back, drank expensive softdrinks and watched the minute hand slowly work its way around the clock towards our flight time.
It seemed like only a day or two before it was time to board our Royal Brunei aluminium tube.
2. The First Few Days
After a stop-over for the day in Brunei, we landed safe and sound in England. A quick drive over to Essex and it was time to sleep. There was only time for a brief stay with the wonderfully hospitable Jonny and Vicki before it was time to head North and get to work. We picked up a cello, a car and some cds that we'd left behind last year and then we were off to Whitby. Three days after landing, we performed as a three-piece for the first time in the UK at the Moor and Coast Festival. Straight into work, with loads of friends around, and a cold North Yorkshire wind coming off the sea to welcome us back.
The festival was a real hoot, with enough time off to climb up to the Abbey, and for all three of us to catch colds.
3. Derbyshire and the search for Wacky Instruments
Fortunately for us, we had 10 days before our next gig after Whitby and we used the time to recover, overcome any residual jetlag and gear ourselves up for the next gig. Thanks to Debi's mum, Louise (another saunaclub connection) we had a place to lay our heads in beautiful Derbyshire, a delightful house just outside Matlock. We caught the local session, did some proper tourist trips into town, and even visited a nearby stone circle (the Nine Ladies) with James and Nancy, who had a gig nearby. And there was time left over for tunes in the lounge room. John was busy typing assignments for his postgrad studies (never travel without home work) and of course, it was time to make Wacky instruments.
A festival in Wales had asked us to run some childrens workshops with local schools and wanted us to include a wacky instrument component. For those who haven't come across these marvels of very little technology, they involve using lengths of Polypipe (aggypipe in Australia) to make large, portable and very loud percussion instruments. We also constructed a large number of cardboard and rubber-glove flubber pipes (like a bassoon, only friendlier). John managed to source polypipe in lengths of less than 100 metres (much harder than it sounds) and we put the whole shebang together in record time. Here are some glimpses of the construction and packing phases of the operation:
With a car full of plastic, our first stop was Blackpool for the next gig - Music at the Clarence. Here's a short clip to give you an idea of what it was like (a big file - broadband recommended):
4. Back to School
The polypipe instruments were for part of our work with the Berwyn Festival of Music, Art and Food (we think their priorities are right). We'd been asked to work with three local schools, and help them with a concert presentation. We used the wacky instruments in the workshops and taught songs and some rhythm games. The kids from the 3 schools were a delight and it all went off well. We played a concert that evening with Jez Lowe finishing the night. All in all, a busy weekend but lots of fun in this amazingly beautiful valley. (If you just can't get enough of video clips, you can have a look at a short one of the kids at work here).
And of course before heading off, we followed everyone's advice and climbed a mountain the next morning to see Castell Dinas Bran. Dinas Bran is one of very few castles ever to be awarded 4 stars on the Castle Wales website. We think it deserves every one, but it is a very long way up. (Castell Dinas Bran fell into disrepair in the 13th century when local artisans were unable to climb any further. Oh, and there was also a fire.)
A good friend from Gloucestershire had invited us to visit in between festivals and so we headed down to Dursley (home of the Lister diesel engine, as featured on all the best narrow boats). John had assignments rapidly approaching deadline, so he stayed indoors and typed himself into a frenzy, while Nic and Bec drove down to Bath and a night of sessioning with James and Nancy and gentle slumber on the canal. John was not in the least bit jealous. He enjoys the thrill of academic challenge and typing until 2 am. He is lucky in that way. All deadlines were met, joy was unbounded, Manchester United won the game and before we knew it, we were off again for a weekend of music.
5. Chippenham, Chester and Beyond
First we went to Chippenham. This great festival really involves the whole town, with venues and markets up and down the high street. We'd played there two years ago and it was terrific to be back, this time with Bec to fill out the lineup. Her parents turned up as well, which added to the fun. We worked hard all day Saturday, playing in some beautiful venues and then were up early Sunday morning to drive up to Chester. Bec stayed behind to spend some time with family for a few days.
We arrived at the Chester Folk Festival just in time for our first show, and just kept playing. As well as running workshops and performing in the marquees, we managed to find a cranking session in the aptly-named Morris Dancer.
After Chester we had a night with Chris Green from Isambarde, shot back to Jonny and Vicki's place for another night of good cheer and lying about, before an indecently early morning trip to the airport.
6. Morocco
When we last visited Sandy and Suzanna's riad in Fez, it was 2004 and the renovations had only just begun. Now they are all but finished and the place is fabulous! You will find all the details (and a wonderful narrative of all things contemporary and Moroccan) on Sandy's blog, The View From Fez. We spent a week exploring the Fez medina and soaking up Sandy's glorious hospitality. Of course we had to sing for our supper, with a delightful house concert at the riad, including rose buds in the fountain, followed by a huge Sunday afternoon at Fez's newest hot spot and all-round cultural delicatessen, Cafe Clock. Here we are with Mike keeping perfect time on his first outing with a shaky egg (thanks to Sandy for the action shot):
And here's a short walk through the medina's back streets to give you small taste of the place.
Our time in Fez just flew past, and before we knew it, it was time for us to head back to the UK. Bec decided to stay behind for a few days of the Sacred Music Festival, planning to catch up with us again in another week. We left Morocco after a wonderful, wonderful week with good friends in one of the world's special places.
7. Straight Back Into Action
Ryanair took us home (I'd give them a link, but only if they give me back the extra £100 it cost to take the guitar to Morocco), we had one night to readjust to a very different cultural context, and then we hurtled up the M1 to Nottinghamshire and the Gate to Southwell Festival. A couple of workshops with local schools, a concert spot on the Friday night and then driving into the night to Sussex! A busy weekend, this one. Saturday saw us running an all-day singing workshop at the Lewes Arms Folk Club, with the folk club that night. The workshop was a joy. A really fabulous club, with wonderful floor spots and enthusiastic choruses. We were back on the road the next day and so we missed the Dwyle Flunking. But you can enjoy it, here's a clip!
8. And Now...
We're spending a few days in Essex, rehearsing with Rebecca and Jonny and Vicki for our gig at Brampton Live later in the tour. In a couple of days we drive North for more gigs and in a week we should be in Ireland for a few days of session-hunting at Solstice.
The road keeps unrolling before us. We'll keep you posted.
Love
Nicole and John
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visited a nearby stone circle (
